as in flirtation
the attitude or behavior of one who insincerely courts the amorous attentions of others
the new boss was all business and put a stop to the banter, practical joking, and coquetry in the office
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Recent Examples of coquetry
The three-inch heels that the women wear when performing the dance are visible at the bottom of the skirt—a demure bit of coquetry.
—
Fernanda Pérez Sánchez, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2022
In other words, the most dizzying and most consequential storyline of Michigan’s offseason — Harbaugh’s coquetry with the Minnesota Vikings notwithstanding — is going to linger a while longer.
—Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 27 July 2022
The quick coquetry, captured by webcams pointed at the nest, made for lighthearted jokes and speculative gossip on social media, as fans of the birds reveled in the mystery of the latest developments and poked fun at Annie’s apparent promiscuity, comparing the turn of events to a TV drama.
—Andres Picon, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2022
Too ashamed to start a romance with a social inferior, Diana nevertheless spitefully scuttles her underlings’ relationship and harasses Teodoro with on-again, off-again coquetry.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2020
Fernanda Pérez Sánchez, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2022
In other words, the most dizzying and most consequential storyline of Michigan’s offseason — Harbaugh’s coquetry with the Minnesota Vikings notwithstanding — is going to linger a while longer.
—Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 27 July 2022
The quick coquetry, captured by webcams pointed at the nest, made for lighthearted jokes and speculative gossip on social media, as fans of the birds reveled in the mystery of the latest developments and poked fun at Annie’s apparent promiscuity, comparing the turn of events to a TV drama.
—Andres Picon, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2022
Too ashamed to start a romance with a social inferior, Diana nevertheless spitefully scuttles her underlings’ relationship and harasses Teodoro with on-again, off-again coquetry.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coquetry
flirtation
Noun
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There was a flirtation with Aaron Rodgers and a vested interest in Daniel Jones, yet both quarterbacks signed elsewhere due to the Vikings' investment in McCarthy.—
Trevor Squire,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
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That means more reassurance, more validation, even flirtation — whatever keeps the user coming back.—
Windsor Johnston,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coquetry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coquetry. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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